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Mappin Brothers English Tray Old Sheffield, Victorian Style Engraved And Marked

Name: Mappin Brothers English Tray Old Sheffield, Victorian Style Engraved And Marked
Brand: Mappin Brothers
Price: 2737.16 AUD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (43 reviews)

$1,796.10

£1,327.71

€1,500

CA$2,442.81

A$2,737.16

CHF 1,424.80

MX$33,484.93

NOK 18,085.14

SEK 17,081.20

DKK 11,421.76

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About the Item

Please read the entire description carefully, as we strive to provide you with detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our items. This is an exceptional and rare Sheffield Plate tray in early Victorian style. Notably, this tray is rare because it belongs to the transitional period between Old Sheffield Plate and electroplated, or silver-plated items. It was crafted in 1850 by Mappin Brothers, one of the finest English companies, established in Sheffield in 1810 (as indicated by the mark on the underside of the tray). The term “Sheffield Plate” refers to a method of fusing silver and copper, discovered accidentally in 1742 by silversmith Thomas Boulsover in Sheffield. This technique was applied to various domestic items from around 1750 to 1850 and was significant for its technical value and immediate economic and social impact. By 1750, household items for a refined middle class were already being produced using Sheffield Plate. This social class, keen to replicate the lifestyle of the nobility, found in this material an affordable means to achieve their aspirations. Sheffield Plate items were not inferior to solid silver pieces of the era, except for their lower cost, which contributed to the technique's success. After 1840, with the advent of electroplating (a galvanic silvering process), the Sheffield Plate gradually fell out of use and came to be known as “Old Sheffield Plate.” Our tray, made in 1850, was not produced using the traditional Old Sheffield Plate method. Although copper (visible beneath the silver coating in the photos) is still used as the base metal, the silvering was done via the galvanic method, where a significant amount of silver was deposited electrolytically onto the copper. This makes the piece valuable and, as noted, rare, being among the last items made with copper—a superior, though costly, conductor that was later replaced by more economical metals and alloys suited for electroplating (such as brass, nickel silver, and nickel) after approximately 1865. Other production methods also evolved. The engraving on our tray was done by hand using a burin, as copper's softness made it ideal for this type of work. However, with the adoption of harder metals, this manual process was gradually replaced by mechanical techniques. The tray's exquisite handles and vine-themed border are particularly noteworthy, crafted through investment casting and hand-finished with detailed chiseling. Joseph Mappin Sr. founded the company and initially operated it with his son as Joseph Mappin & Son. In 1828, Joseph Jr. (1794-1841) parted ways with his father and partnered with George Arundel (Arundel & Mappin). After Arundel's retirement in 1835, Joseph Jr. continued the business under his own name. The company’s trademark (a “sun”), which also appears on our tray, was registered that year. Following Joseph Jr.'s death in 1841, his eldest son, Frederick Thorpe Mappin, took nominal leadership of the company alongside his three younger brothers: Edward (1826-1875), Joseph Charles (1828-1901), and John Newton (1835-1913). Despite his young age, Frederick proved to be an adept businessman, successfully managing the company, first as Joseph Mappin & Brothers and, from 1852, as Mappin Brothers. In 1851, the company moved its operations to the new Queens Plate & Cutlery Works and participated in the Great Exhibition in London, opening showrooms in the city. In 1857, John Newton Mappin, the youngest brother, joined as a partner. However, in 1859, the Mappin Brothers dissolved, but the company continued to operate successfully under different names. In 1963, Mappin & Webb merged with Elkington and Walker & Hall to form British Silverware Ltd. Unfortunately, the merger was unsuccessful, and in 1971, the Mappin & Webb factory in Sheffield closed its doors. The tray is in good, unrestored condition, showing signs of 174 years of wear. Dimensions: width 73 cm, depth 46 cm, height 3 cm. We use special packing materials (wooden crates, Styrofoam, etc.) for all our shipments to ensure maximum protection and safety of the items.

Creator:

Mappin Brothers (Maker)

Dimensions:

Height: 1.19 in (3 cm)Width: 28.75 in (73 cm)Depth: 18.12 in (46 cm)

Style:

Early Victorian (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Sheffield Plate,Hand-Crafted

Place of Origin:

United Kingdom

Period:

Mid-19th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1850

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. The tray is in good, unrestored condition, showing signs of 184 years of wear.

Seller Location:

Prato, IT

Reference Number:

Seller: 160751stDibs: LU4632242327392

Shop All Mappin Brothers

Mappin Brothers

Appointed the Crown Jeweler in 2012, Mappin & Webb is one of the most widely recognized makers of silver and luxury goods in the world. With a roster of prestigious clients that has included six British monarchs as well as Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill and Harry Houdini, the historic firm has supplied fine jewelry and silver objects for royalty all over the globe including the Russian Imperial Household, the Siamese royal family and the Indian Maharaja.

Mappin & Webb’s origins are rooted in Jonathan Mappin’s workshop in Sheffield. He opened in 1775 with the intent to serve British society with the highest quality silverware ever made. His son and grandson, both named Joseph, carried on his vision until the mid-19th century when his four great-grandsons incorporated the business into Mappin Brothers Ltd. and embarked on a substantial expansion of the firm.

Nearing 1860, two of the great-grandsons, eldest Sir William Mappin and youngest John Mappin, left to pursue other opportunities. John opened his own business, Mappin & Company, and was joined two years later by his brother-in-law George Webb. Webb passed away in 1868 — the same year that saw the family form Mappin & Webb Co.

Webb’s name lived on in the company even after 1889 when the company became Mappin & Webb Ltd. In 1897, Mappin & Webb were granted their first Royal Warrant as silversmiths to Queen Victoria. The firm has been a holder of Royal Warrants since then.

Mappin & Webb supplied soldiers in the battle of Omdurman with their acclaimed Campaign watch. The company also supported wartime efforts during both World Wars in their enormous factory in Sheffield. Today Mappin & Webb is among the most prominent makers of Sheffield silver in the world.

Watches of Switzerland Operations Ltd. acquired Mappin & Webb in 1998 after a series of mergers and acquisitions.

Find antique Mappin Brothers serveware, decorative objects and other barware on 1stDibs.

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